Adjacent Words

Exculpate definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

EXCUL'PATE, v.t. [L. ex and culpo, to blame, culpa, fault.]
To clear by words from a charge or imputation of fault or guilt; to excuse. How naturally are we inclined to exculpate ourselves and throw the blame on others. Eve endeavored to exculpate herself for eating the forbidden fruit,and throw the blame on the serpent; Adam attempted to exculpate himself and throw the blame on Eve.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: pronounce not guilty of criminal charges; "The suspect was cleared of the murder charges" [syn: acquit, assoil, clear, discharge, exonerate, exculpate] [ant: convict]

Merriam Webster's

transitive verb (-pated; -pating) Etymology: Medieval Latin exculpatus, past participle of exculpare, from Latin ex- + culpa blame Date: circa 1681 to clear from alleged fault or guilt • exculpation noun Synonyms: exculpate, absolve, exonerate, acquit, vindicate mean to free from a charge. exculpate implies a clearing from blame or fault often in a matter of small importance <exculpating himself from the charge of overenthusiasm>. absolve implies a release either from an obligation that binds the conscience or from the consequences of disobeying the law or committing a sin <cannot be absolved of blame>. exonerate implies a complete clearance from an accusation or charge and from any attendant suspicion of blame or guilt <exonerated by the investigation>. acquit implies a formal decision in one's favor with respect to a definite charge <voted to acquit the defendant>. vindicate may refer to things as well as persons that have been subjected to critical attack or imputation of guilt, weakness, or folly, and implies a clearing effected by proving the unfairness of such criticism or blame <her judgment was vindicated>.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.tr. formal 1 free from blame. 2 (foll. by from) clear (a person) of a charge. Derivatives: exculpation n. exculpatory adj. Etymology: med.L exculpare exculpat- (as EX-(1), culpa blame)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Exculpate Ex*cul"pate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exculpated, p. pr. & vb. n.. Exculpating (?).] [L. ex out + culpatus, p. p. of culpare to find fault with, to blame, culpa fault. See Culpable.] To clear from alleged fault or guilt; to prove to be guiltless; to relieve of blame; to acquit. He exculpated himself from being the author of the heroic epistle. --Mason. I exculpate him further for his writing against me. --Milman. Syn: To exonerate; absolve; clear; acquit; excuse; vindicate; justify.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. Absolve, exonerate, acquit, clear, vindicate, set right.

Moby Thesaurus

absolve, account for, acquit, amnesty, clear, condone, cry sour grapes, decontaminate, destigmatize, discharge, dismiss, dispense from, do justice to, excuse, exempt, exempt from, exonerate, explain, forgive, free, give absolution, grant amnesty to, grant forgiveness, grant immunity, grant remission, justify, let go, let off, nonpros, pardon, purge, quash the charge, rationalize, rehabilitate, reinstate, release, remit, restore, set free, shrive, spare, vindicate, warrant, whitewash, withdraw the charge